Editorial Reviews

An outstanding first installment of The Rise of Penumbra series, The Valley of Stars by Yona Katz is an original work of fantasy with the symbolic weight of a fable. The novel tells the story of Asha, a young Star who gets thrown out of the sky and lands on Adama, where it is the duty of the stars to brighten the desolate lives of the Adamians, but how can a Star survive in a place so different from home? Both adventurous and emotionally complex, Katz’s storytelling is refreshingly inventive, establishing an elaborate mythical world, which also explores themes of […]

A futuristic blur of sci-fi and dark fantasy, Outcasts, Book 3 in the Wardens Universe, by Jonathan Staten is a page-turning installment of this universe-jumping series. When a deadly enemy from the past unleashes a shadowy slaughter and a secret heist in the city of Sephria, the Augur-augmented Wardens of the Interstellar Space Association may be the only force that can stop their destructive plans. Elizabeth Stone will have to master her new abilities in the crucible of combat, and learn to trust her centuries-old comrades, or succumb to the wrath of a vengeful monster from another world. […]

A sarcastic and self-aware whodunit by Josh Harper, Additional Attendee is a smart, snarky, and satisfying high-rise mystery. A self-involved elder millennial named Paul is determined to catch his cheating wife in the act, but after finding a corpse, rather than a tryst, he ends up as a prime suspect in the suspected suitor’s murder. To complicate matters, Paul’s adulterous wife is missing, his lobby attendant crush is acting suspicious, and his tepid career as an actor makes it hard for the authorities to believe anything he says. Neurotic narration, gleefully cartoonish characters, and a twisting plot make this first […]

Encouraging a holistic synthesis of revolutionary ideas from the cutting-edge frontiers of modern research, The Tapestry of Science: A Multidisciplinary Review of Fundamental and Contemporary Topics by V.G. Kumar Das is a cross-sectional review of today’s most exciting fields, and a prophetic glimpse at essential and inevitable technologies to come. From timely subjects like potable water scarcity and zoonotic pandemics to renewable energy advancements and nanomaterial development, this is an accessible guide to high-level concepts delivered in an engaging and curiosity-sparking form, driven by an abiding sense of fascination with each topic. Unlike the droning pace of many textbooks, this […]

Introducing an elaborate new world of wicked queens, wyrms, and unlikely antiheroes, A Dragon of the Veil by Nick Snape is a classic genre escape that artfully mixes elements of arcanepunk and high fantasy. In a world where the entrenched forces of tradition and religion are being strengthened by ominously familiar science and technology, a Queen hopes to finally eliminate the bastions of Unbelievers with a devastating new weapon. A once-heroic washout of a warrior is given a final chance at heroism to save his realm and the dragons who call it home, only to find that loyalties and morality […]

A clever continuation of Jane Austen’s literary legacy, Something About Lizzy: Family Secrets Post-Pride and Prejudice by Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi is an emotionally penned testament to female friendship and self-discovery. Navigating her sixteenth year in the company of her cousin Elizabeth Darcy, young Sofia-Elisabete learns that even a seemingly perfect life can be rife with secrets and regrets. Peeling back the layers of polite society and marital conflict in a fictional but familiar world that loyal readers have come to love, this novel laces surprisingly timely themes of empowerment, bullying, and open communication into a dazzling 19th-century drama with […]

A necessary fictional plunge into the annals of history’s unsung heroes, Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women is a perfectly curated collection of fearless women making their mark on the world. From charming murderesses and devoted patriots to battlefield heroines and rebellious homemakers, these tales of extraordinary women and their dangerous deeds span centuries and nations, for a well-rounded and insightful compendium of unheard voices. The distinct and polished prose of the contributing writers brings their imagined achievements to life, resulting in a captivating, thought-provoking, and undeniably inspiring collection. Transcending the tired themes of compulsory courtship and domesticity, these […]

A hilarious, moving, and informative account of motherhood, See the Good/God in Everything: The Secret to Inspire Gratitude, Build Hope and Find Joy in Every Day by Regina Clifford is an inspiring guide, interspersed with prayers and biblical citations. Imbued with the author’s endearing sense of humor and her deep religious faith, the book touches on the most challenging aspects of being a wife, mother, daughter, and friend – touching on issues such as the role of intimacy in married life after the children are born to the literal messiness of raising children. Both a personal diary and a work […]